Every College Football Playoff team wants to focus solely on winning a national title, but Penn State head coach James Franklin addressed an issue elsewhere in the sport.

The college football transfer portal is open and the timing couldn’t be worse for coaches like Franklin, who already had a key backup player in the mix.

But Franklin defended his backup quarterback Beau Pribula, who made the decision to enter the portal after starter Drew Allar had already declared his intention to return to the Nittany Lions in 2025.

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Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula rushes during the Purdue Boilermakers game at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 16, 2024 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (IMAGN)

“The overlapping schedule of the CFB playoffs and the transfer portal forced me to make an impossible decision,” Pribula wrote on social media Sunday.

“We have problems in college football, and I can give you my word, Beau Pribula didn’t want to leave our program, and he didn’t want to leave our program until the end of the season,” Franklin said on ESPN on Monday in defense of Pribula’s decision to enter the portal. “But the way the portal is and the timing and the way our team plays and when you play the quarterback position and there’s only one spot and those spots are getting filled more and more, he felt , like he’s hit a dead end.” Winning situation, and I agree with them.

Pribula spoke to Franklin about his decision before making it public.

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Because of the decision, true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who has yet to throw a pass, will now be Penn State’s backup player throughout the College Football Playoff, which begins for the Nittany Lions on Saturday against No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium.

“No. 1, I hate it, especially Beau Pribula,” Franklin added. “I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the student-athlete, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of college football.”

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula lines up against the Oregon Ducks during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (IMAGN)

Franklin added that Pribula was a “phenomenal teammate” and played a big role in helping his team reach the playoffs despite being rarely used this season.

However, the Nittany Lions have benefited from Pribula’s speed this season, as he ranks second in rushing touchdowns with six and third in rushing yards (242). He also threw five touchdowns on 25 attempts for 275 yards this season.

Unfortunately, he is not the only player who entered the portal despite his team’s success.

Former Texas Longhorns backup Maalik Murphy entered the portal last season despite his team’s upcoming game against the Washington Huskies for a spot in the national championship.

He would eventually transfer to Duke, where he started the 2024 season. Murphy is once again in the portal looking for his next team.

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

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And Saturday’s Nittany Lions opponent also saw the Mustangs’ backup quarterback Preston Stone enter the portal.

This is the first year of the expanded playoffs, but the transfer portal, an area of ​​controversy across college football depending on who you talk to, remains an even bigger problem as more and more teams move toward a hopeful national title run prepare.

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